Whatever one thinks of his polices, Nick Clegg has played his hand very well in this campaign. Few would have expected Clegg to make as much use of the leaders’ debates as he has. But now the debates are over, Clegg has to find another way of making an impact if his party is to hold onto second place.
In the final days of the campaign, there’s going to be a tendency among the media to concentrate on the outgoing PM and the prospective PM. This is going to be heightened by a sense that the Tories might, in the end, get a majority. To an extent, Clegg is protected by the broadcasting regulations. But there’s a danger that he’s relegated to the end of every package. So Clegg will have to find ways to make news between now and Thursday that do not make him sound shrill or desperate. If he can do that, then the Lib Dems are in with a very good chance of transforming British politics by coming second.
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